Reporter Chen: "Do you regret not sending your children to school?"
The older women slapped their thighs and exclaimed, "That's right! If they all went to school, wouldn't they all pass the exams to become government officials?"
Reporter Chen quickly pressed on, "Don't you think it's unfair? The educated youth from other places can enter the office, but your children can't."
This question was actually a bit offensive, but Lin Yu knew that the reporter was there to uncover the truth, so she didn't stop him.
She also wanted to hear the older women's answers.
"Oh well. What can we do? They couldn't pass the exam, could they? But a few other kids still got in, didn't they?"
"That's right, we all grew up together, so how come the Qiao family got in?"
Lin Yu explained, "They're talking about Qiao Shulin. He went to junior high school and got into the finance department last year."
The older women nodded: "You can't blame the educated youth. We know our own children well; they just don't have the ability. I think working in the factory is just fine."
"That's right, my child isn't good at studying, but he's quite efficient at doing chores."
Reporter Chen couldn't believe it; he thought people from the countryside were unreasonable.
But these older women have a set of logic, and it's all correct.
The words may be crude, but the principle is sound: people should do what they are good at.
Those who fail the exam are deemed incapable, while those who are sent-down youths who pass the exam prove they are all capable of fulfilling their duties.
At this point, Lin Yu asked him to listen again: "You can tell Reporter Chen about your children."
Reporter Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at the group of elderly women.
They wore expressions of pride, unlike the look of disdain they usually showed when talking about their sons and daughters.
“My son Niu Dan is amazing. He even recites ancient poems to me when he comes home.”
"Our Niu Niu is the same; she got 100 on her final exam this time."
“Our tree root still does its homework when it gets home.”
Reporter Chen asked, "So you're now focusing on your grandchildren's education?"
The older women nodded: "Yes, we should let them study more. To pass the office exam, you need at least a junior high school education."
"Reading is still beneficial. Look at those educated youth, they know so many characters."
"That's right, isn't our Teacher Zhang one?"
Reporter Chen pressed further: "What Teacher Zhang? You have another teacher?"
When it comes to this, the older women have something to say.
"The teacher in the factory's literacy class was also an educated youth. He taught very well. I can recognize dozens of characters now."
"Yes, yes, he even named my son Lin Jian, which sounds much better than Lin Daniu."
"Teacher Zhang is a good person and doesn't get angry easily."
"..."
After listening to what they were saying, Reporter Chen became quite interested in this Teacher Zhang they were talking about.
Lin Yu led him out of the workshop, introducing him as they walked: "Zhang, a former educated youth, went to the countryside a few years ago. He married Li Lanhua, a comrade from our brigade, and they had children."
She started as an office clerk, and now she's the head of human resources and also teaches literacy classes part-time.
Reporter Chen: "Can I see what he looks like when he's teaching? I think those older women really like him."
Lin Yu nodded: "Sure, I have class tonight, you can come and listen."
Reporter Chen then asked, "How is the literacy campaign going in your brigade?"
Lin Yu said, "The literacy classes have been running for two years. Now most people can recognize commonly used characters, some of whom can even write them, while others are still at the stage of recognizing characters."
"But overall, it should be considered that they have become literate."
Reporter Chen has also visited many rural areas and, to be honest, the progress of literacy campaigns is not fast.
Most people are very stubborn; they think that recognizing characters is useless, and even if classes are offered, they don't learn anything from them.
Some people attended literacy classes for a year, but still couldn't distinguish between the words "male" and "female".
Not to mention knowing their own names.
The Lotus Brigade is clearly different; the elderly women I met today can all read and write.
Their mental outlook is also very different from that of people from other places.
Perhaps because they have received training, their logical thinking is very clear.
The level of importance they place on their children's education is also quite surprising.
This made reporter Chen even more interested in this teacher, Mr. Zhang.
Perhaps his teaching experience could be written down to guide people in other places.
This is very valuable.
Lin Yu had no idea that he was thinking so much; if the other party wanted to watch Zhang Bing's class, then go ahead and watch.
She believes this is also a way to showcase the food factory and the spirit of the Lianhua Brigade.
She did not inform Zhang Bing in advance, striving to present a true picture to reporter Chen.
Lin Yu then took reporter Chen to see the dried fruit workshop and the dried mushroom workshop.
"Both of these raw materials were grown by our brother brigade."
Reporter Chen: "Then you've provided them with a source of income."
Lin Yu nodded and continued without ceremony: "These mushrooms were grown by the Dongfeng Brigade."
Reporter Chen asked in surprise, "They grow it themselves?"
"Hmm. Otherwise, how would we get so many mushrooms if we just went to the mountains to pick them?"
After learning about the mushroom houses of the Dongfeng Brigade, Reporter Chen was truly shocked by the villagers of Qingshan Commune.
Given the economic conditions across the country, they were able to carve out a path for themselves with their own hands.
He immediately noted down the details of the mushroom house, intending to visit it in person.
Lin Yu suggested that he go and check out the surrounding brigades, as there would be a big surprise.
Reporter Chen agreed; he wanted to see just how many things there were about Qingshan Commune that he didn't know.
Lin Yu then took him to the most important canning workshop.
"Your canned goods have been very popular in the northern part of the city these past two years," both reporter Chen and the cameraman said.
The cameraman also said, "My child loves your canned food the most. It's only 2.5 yuan a bottle, but her mother thinks it's too expensive and is reluctant to buy it."
Lin Yu said with a smile, "Kids love these sweet things. Although the price is a bit high, our portions are very generous."
She pointed to the newly arrived lychees: "Look, these are all fresh and of the highest quality."
She reached out and peeled one, urging them to try it: "Have you ever tried fresh lychees? Give it a try."
Both of them were native northerners and had never actually eaten fresh lychees before.
Although it was transported from Guangcheng, the taste is not as good as when it was in the orchard.
But the two of them were still amazed when they tasted it.
Lychees have a sweet taste and a unique fragrance that is refreshing and delightful.
"So this is what lychees taste like! They're even better than canned ones," the cameraman exclaimed.
If my kids could eat it too, they definitely wouldn't crave canned food anymore.
Lin Yu said, "These things are difficult to transport; they'll spoil if they're sent to Beicheng. That's why we've set up this as a transit point for processing."
"Look at this bottle, there's so much fruit pulp in it, plus sugar. It's priced at two yuan and fifty cents, so there's not much profit in it."
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